NEWS 3 PROOF NEEDED: Kalangadoo Organics operator Chris McColl was the first South East resident to be called as a witness in the parliamentary inquiry into fracking. Contamination fears raised KEN BR brett@ KENNEDY RETT brett@tbw.com.au t have to prove that hey should have to prove that it is safe.” That was the final message delivered by Kalangadoo Organic farmer Chris McColl on Tuesday at the Natural Resources Committee (NRC) fact-finding mission in Millicent. Having made a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into unconventional gas and fracking, Mr McColl drove home his points only a few feet from the seven politicians selected to determine the outcome. Mr McColl drew on 33 years of horticulture experience to stress the importance of groundwater, while also voicing his disapproval of a independent roundtable process triggered by Beach Energy. “My major concern is the groundwater and maintaining the integrity and quality,” Mr McColl said. “I think there is a huge danger that it will become contaminated. Mr McColl said unknowns beneath the surface fuelled his concern. “When the engineered system meets the natural system, that’s where you don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “They don’t really know what’s down there, they’ve got a fair idea, but there are all sorts of imperfections and fractures.” Repeating claims that the fracking process carried minimal risk, Mr McColl said no gas industry representative would ever say there was no risk. “If you roll the dice enough times, the number you don’t want will come up. “If you drill dozens, hundreds and up to thousands of wells and frack thousands of times, the odds are sooner or later you are going to intersect one of these natural fractures and things are going to go wrong. “They can’t say there’s no risk, but they’re expecting the local com- If you drill dozens, hundreds and up to thousands of wells and frack thousands of times, the odds are sooner or later you are going to intersect one of these natural fractures and things are going to go wrong Chris McColl munity and future generations to bare that risk. “They’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose.” Any contamination to the groundwater would be irreparable, according to Mr McColl. “I’m not here because I’m worried about my little business ending, I’m worried about the whole community, the economy and future generations. “I think we’ve got a real obliga- tion to err on the side of caution and not jeopardise the water and food supply.” “Would the mining companies be allowed to drill under the Blue Lake? People would think no... because it just doesn’t feel right. “Well it doesn’t feel right to do it anywhere in this area because there is a risk associated.” Invited to attend the South East Energy and Industry Roundtable which sat in Penola last November, Mr McColl said he was not likely to attend the second meeting, which was scheduled for this month, but has since been postponed. “Quite frankly, I think there is a total lack of sincerity and integrity on the part of the mining company SCORE A SPECI 6 N $ EACH a $ Lindeman’s Bin 750ml# IN ANY 6 OR MORE BOTTLE BUY 399 SAVE Gage Atomic Pale Ale Bottles 24x330ml OR Coopers Pale Ale Bottles 24x375ml Equates to $32.20 for 700ml $ 46 EACH SAVE UP $ 6 TO Kalangadoo Organic farmer places spotlight on fracking danger representatives who are on that roundtable,” he said. “If there is a big enough financial incentive, some people will argue black is white.” Mr McColl said he had sent a series of follow-up questions to attendees of the inaugural roundtable meeting, but was yet to receive a response. “We can’t get any written response, they’re just saying everything is going to be okay, we are using the world’s best practices,” he said. “Most of the people in the South East opposed to fracking in the South East are not acting out of self-interest. “The people who are pro-fracking have just got blinkers on and they’re just seeing dollar signs flashing up ahead.” In closing, Mr McColl called for the State Government to impose a moratorium on fracking until all relevant information had been collected and assessed. $ 92 2 SAVE UP $ 22 TO Jim Beam White Label Bourbon, Bundaberg UP Rum OR Bacardi Rum 1 Litre TODAY’S SPECIAL bws.com.au | Call 1300 138 297* We support the responsible service of alcohol. 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